Water Quality ProgramWater Quality Program

Financial AssistanceFinancial Assistance

Progress and Plans for Meeting RCW 70.146.090 Requirements

(Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee)

Evolution of “JLARC” Evolution of “JLARC” StatuteStatute

Legislative interest in state investments by Legislative interest in state investments by all environmental financial programs.all environmental financial programs.

Joint Legislative Audit and Review Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) Evaluation in 2000Committee (JLARC) Evaluation in 2000

Audited 12 environmental grant and loan Audited 12 environmental grant and loan programs programs

Six (6) state agencies. Six (6) state agencies.

Evolution of “JLARC” Statute Evolution of “JLARC” Statute (cont.)(cont.)

Two primary audit themes:Two primary audit themes:

1.1. Effectiveness at producing high environmental Effectiveness at producing high environmental quality returns, and quality returns, and

2.2. Services provided by state to local Services provided by state to local governments.governments.

The Audit Found a Need for.….The Audit Found a Need for.….

Major shift of program focus from:Major shift of program focus from:

Distributing funds, Distributing funds, toto Strategic investment of funds, Strategic investment of funds, and and

Streamlined, integrated service between Streamlined, integrated service between programs.programs.

Yearly Reports to Legislature.Yearly Reports to Legislature.

Key Recommendations….Key Recommendations….

1.1. Uniform Project Reporting System Uniform Project Reporting System (UPERS) Implementation(UPERS) Implementation

2.2. Develop meaningful output & outcome Develop meaningful output & outcome measures for: measures for:

project and program investment performance project and program investment performance contributing to adaptive managementcontributing to adaptive management

3.3. Collaborate on strategic plan for water Collaborate on strategic plan for water quality and salmon recovery > SSB 5637 quality and salmon recovery > SSB 5637

Key Recommendations (cont)….Key Recommendations (cont)….

4.4. Incorporate “Key Investment Practices”Incorporate “Key Investment Practices”

Application ProcessApplication Process Selection ProcessSelection Process Investment ProcessInvestment Process ImplementationImplementation Monitoring’Monitoring’ Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management CoordinationCoordination

Key Recommendations (cont)….Key Recommendations (cont)….

5.5. Joint, collaborative work with other agencies to Joint, collaborative work with other agencies to streamline across funding programs e.g:streamline across funding programs e.g:

Definitions,Definitions, Assessment protocols, Assessment protocols, Application forms,Application forms, Priority criteria, etc.Priority criteria, etc.

6.6. Agencies report to Legislature annually on efforts and Agencies report to Legislature annually on efforts and progress.progress.

Statutory Direction Statutory Direction Outcomes and CollaborationOutcomes and Collaboration

Statutes and funding authorizations for all Statutes and funding authorizations for all six agencies including Water Quality’s six agencies including Water Quality’s Centennial Statute (Chapter 70.146 RCW, Centennial Statute (Chapter 70.146 RCW, Water Pollution Control Facilities Water Pollution Control Facilities Financing Act) were amended by the Financing Act) were amended by the Legislature in 2001:Legislature in 2001:

2001 Statutory 2001 Statutory Requirements:Requirements:

RCW 70.146.090….RCW 70.146.090….

““Grants and loans to local governments -- Statement Grants and loans to local governments -- Statement of environmental benefits -- Development of of environmental benefits -- Development of outcome-focused performance measures.outcome-focused performance measures.

In providing grants and loans to local governments, In providing grants and loans to local governments, the department (of Ecology) shall: (actively address the department (of Ecology) shall: (actively address three [3] multi-year tasksthree [3] multi-year tasks): ):

2001 Statutory 2001 Statutory Requirements:Requirements:

1.1. Require recipients to incorporate the Require recipients to incorporate the environmental benefits of the project into environmental benefits of the project into their applications, and the department (of their applications, and the department (of Ecology) shall utilize the statement of Ecology) shall utilize the statement of environmental benefits in its grant and environmental benefits in its grant and loan prioritization and selection process.loan prioritization and selection process.

(Implemented - but ongoing effort)(Implemented - but ongoing effort)

2001 Statutory Requirements:2001 Statutory Requirements:

2. 2. The department shall also develop The department shall also develop appropriate outcome-focused performance appropriate outcome-focused performance measures to be used both for management measures to be used both for management and performance assessment of the grant and performance assessment of the grant and loan programand loan program. .

(Some efforts completed – others under development).(Some efforts completed – others under development).

2001 Statutory Requirements2001 Statutory Requirements::

3.3.To the extent possible, the department To the extent possible, the department should coordinate its performance measure should coordinate its performance measure system with other natural resource-related system with other natural resource-related agencies as defined in RCW agencies as defined in RCW 43.41.27043.41.270. The . The department shall consult with affected interest department shall consult with affected interest groups in implementing this section.”groups in implementing this section.”

(Ongoing, but needs continued refinement).(Ongoing, but needs continued refinement).

The Past……….The Past……….

Goals, objectives, and milestones were subsets of Goals, objectives, and milestones were subsets of tasks and solutions in all grant/loan applications.tasks and solutions in all grant/loan applications.

Responses to solution questions received priority Responses to solution questions received priority points.points.

Ecology’s “Final Performance Evaluation” tracked Ecology’s “Final Performance Evaluation” tracked accomplishments at accomplishments at project completionproject completion (only). (only).

Ecology had no Ecology had no integratedintegrated method to track on project method to track on project and program environmental benefits, e.g. dollars and program environmental benefits, e.g. dollars invested vs. environmental results derivedinvested vs. environmental results derived..

The Present…The Present…

Water Quality “Goals” are defined as major changes Water Quality “Goals” are defined as major changes in the environment. Specifically they are in the environment. Specifically they are oneone or more or more of the following three (3) measures:of the following three (3) measures:

Applicants must address at least one (1) of Applicants must address at least one (1) of three (3) “Water Quality Goals:”three (3) “Water Quality Goals:”

1.1. Eliminate “Severe Public Health Hazard” or Eliminate “Severe Public Health Hazard” or “Public Health Emergency.” “Public Health Emergency.”

2.2. Restore or protect designated beneficial uses: Restore or protect designated beneficial uses: e.g. 303(d) listed water bodies de-listed and/or e.g. 303(d) listed water bodies de-listed and/or prevent healthy waters from being degraded.prevent healthy waters from being degraded.

3.3. Regulatory compliance with a consent decree, Regulatory compliance with a consent decree, compliance order, TMDL or waste load compliance order, TMDL or waste load allocation, etc., achieved.allocation, etc., achieved.

Water Quality Outcomes….Water Quality Outcomes….

““OUTCOMES” OUTCOMES” are defined as environmental are defined as environmental changes that the applicant/recipient can expect changes that the applicant/recipient can expect to to achieveachieve from a successful project, e.g. from a successful project, e.g.

Establishment and maintenance of a properly functioning Establishment and maintenance of a properly functioning 12 mile riparian corridor by:12 mile riparian corridor by:

Planting and maintaining at least 15,000 trees. Planting and maintaining at least 15,000 trees. Documenting 90%, 8 year survival rate to provide Documenting 90%, 8 year survival rate to provide

shade.shade. Excluding all cattle from the corridor for a period of at Excluding all cattle from the corridor for a period of at

least 20 years along 12 miles of streamleast 20 years along 12 miles of stream..

Water Quality MilestonesWater Quality Milestones

MILESTONES” are defined as performance items that MILESTONES” are defined as performance items that measurably lead to the achievement of the “Water Quality measurably lead to the achievement of the “Water Quality Outcomes and Goals.” e.g: Outcomes and Goals.” e.g:

Five Meetings of the watershed action committee by Five Meetings of the watershed action committee by May 31, 2005.May 31, 2005.

Gather and train by July 31, 2005, a “stream team” Gather and train by July 31, 2005, a “stream team” to plant the trees and install fence.to plant the trees and install fence.

Acquisition of at least 8,000 trees by August 31, Acquisition of at least 8,000 trees by August 31, 2005.2005.

Prepare 3 mile planting area by September 30, 2005.Prepare 3 mile planting area by September 30, 2005.

Install fence, p1ant, fertilize, and apply deer Install fence, p1ant, fertilize, and apply deer repellent to 7,000 trees by October 31, 2005, etc.repellent to 7,000 trees by October 31, 2005, etc.

What Have We Done?What Have We Done?

During the FY 2003 and 04 funding cycles, the rating During the FY 2003 and 04 funding cycles, the rating and ranking process recognized (points assigned to):and ranking process recognized (points assigned to):

Addressing long-term “Water Quality Goals.”Addressing long-term “Water Quality Goals.”

Identifying “Water Quality Outcomes” achievable by Identifying “Water Quality Outcomes” achievable by completing the project.completing the project.

Meeting identified “Water Quality Milestones.”Meeting identified “Water Quality Milestones.”

Committing to long–term monitoring and maintenance.Committing to long–term monitoring and maintenance.

Assessing Project EffectivenessAssessing Project Effectiveness

A “Special Condition” will be included in all grant A “Special Condition” will be included in all grant /loan agreements beginning in FY04 that will require /loan agreements beginning in FY04 that will require recipients to:recipients to:

Coordinate and help Ecology to assess project Coordinate and help Ecology to assess project effectiveness. effectiveness.

Participate in a survey and interview process.Participate in a survey and interview process. Determine the effectiveness of the investment.Determine the effectiveness of the investment.

Assessment Timing and ProcessAssessment Timing and Process

Three to five (3-5) years Three to five (3-5) years after project completionafter project completion, , the recipient:the recipient:

Completes a Completes a one-pageone-page survey e-mailed by survey e-mailed by Ecology to the recipient (after phone call).Ecology to the recipient (after phone call).

Participates in a 1 - 2 hour interview (as Participates in a 1 - 2 hour interview (as needed, based on survey).needed, based on survey).

What’s in the Survey?What’s in the Survey?

The most critical and specific “Outcome(s)” The most critical and specific “Outcome(s)” achieved by the project.achieved by the project.

Evidence of the continued maintenance and Evidence of the continued maintenance and effectiveness of the project.effectiveness of the project.

The status of the Water Quality Goal(s) at the The status of the Water Quality Goal(s) at the time of the assessment.time of the assessment.

Other completed, ongoing, and subsequent Other completed, ongoing, and subsequent work needed to achieve the Goal(s).work needed to achieve the Goal(s).

The Interview….The Interview….

Interview will go into more depth - building on the survey.

Sharing of success stories about the project and others in the area, etc.

Ongoing Efforts…Ongoing Efforts…

Complete Field Test of Survey & Interview.Complete Field Test of Survey & Interview.

Develop Tracking System for Outcomes, Goals.Develop Tracking System for Outcomes, Goals.

Implement and follow this strategy.Implement and follow this strategy.

Coordinate efforts with other state agencies Coordinate efforts with other state agencies

Report to both Legislature and EPA re: Goals & Report to both Legislature and EPA re: Goals & addressing investment strategy.addressing investment strategy.

Questions???Questions???